Wheel and wheel cover



Feb. 18, 1936. o. u. zERK WHEEUAND WHEEL COVER Filed Dec. 12, 1932 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENTori-"ici:

2,031,355 WHEEL` AND WHEEL oovEa Oscar U. Zerk, Chicago, Ill.Application December 12, 1932, Serial No. 646,859

3 Claims.

cover superposed over the spider and preferably also over the Wheel naveconstruction and in some cases over a portion of the rim, said covermasking the spider and rim and giving the wheel an appearance having adistinctive aesthetic appeal to the eye.

The wheel of the present invention has the valuable advantage thatWhereas the rim and vspider may be of a standard form, they may becombined with covers of a variety of forms presenting distinctlydiiferent appearances and l which are interchangeable for use inconnection with a. single rimand spider design.

Thus a wheelof this proposed'construction not only has the advantagethat 4it is extremely light .in weight but has the further advantagevthat the cover which constitutes a hub and spoke simulating portion, isremovable and readily and quickly interchangeable, and may be replacedshould it accidentally become dented or other- Wise injured bycollision. l

` It is therefore an object of my invention to` provide an improvedautomotive vehicle wheel.

Another object is to provide a wheel of the class described whereof thespider may be made of relatively thin material strengthened by' radiallyarranged relatively deep ribs extending from a point near the outerperipheral rim-en- Y gaging portion to a point inwardly of the wheelfastening bolts, and to a. point relatively near the inner hub or hubproper of the wheel and increasing in depth inwardly.

Another object is to provide a. wheel of the class described providedwithan improved outboard spoke and hub simulating wheel cover`quick-detachably connected to the wheel proper.

Another object is to provide, in a Wheel of the class describedcomprising an innerload-carrying spider and an outer hub and spokesimulating cover, improved spring means to yieldingly connect the coverto the spider or to portions of the wheel connected to the spider.

Another object of. my invention is to provide. in a wheel comprising aninner load-carrying spidervand anv outer hub and spoke simulating cover,improved means to prevent relative rotation of the cover.

6 Another object is to provide, in. a wheel of the class describedcomprising a Wheel fastening ilange and fastening bolts andvcomprisingan outer'hub and spoke simulating cover and resilient means to draw thecover toward the flange, 1o

an improved arrangement of the resilient means whereby the elementsthereof may not interfere with the application of wrenches to the:fastening bolts.

other objects w111 be apparent to those skilled 1t in the art to whichmy invention appertains.

My' invention is fully disclosed in thefollowing description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, and in which:-

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a. wheel em.- 20

bodying my invention in one form, the view being taken approximatelyfrom the plane l-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the embodiment of my invention shown inFig. l'wlth parts thereof 25 removed andl lparts broken away forclearness; -.Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a' fragmentary cross-sectional view 3 taken from the plane 4-4of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l, illustrating anotherembodiment of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary'elevational View of `a part of Fig. 5;

rig. '7 is'a. fragmentary semmai` view taken 35 from the plane 'l-l ofFig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown generally at I an inner hub orhub proper comprisling an integral ilange 2 and provided inwardly.

with suitable bearings 3 and 4 to rotatably sup- 40 port avehicle axle5. Secured to the flange 2 is a. portion 6 of a brake drum. ThesepartscomD stitute no essential part of my invention and may be of wellknown or suitable construction.

- At 1 I have indicated generally a spider, pressed 415 from sheet metaland formed to provide a plurality of radially extending ribs 8 8 and 99. The spider l is peripherally circular and at the outer terminationsof the ribs 8 and 9 the metal of the spider is pressed to close the endsof the ribs as at l0. A plurality of outwardly closed channelL-form ribsare thus provided and the closed outer ends of the ribs are allannularly disposed on a. diameter substantially the same as the innerdiameter of the sheet metal wheel rim shown generally at II.

The rim and the spider 1 are integrally joined together by welding theclosed ends I of the channel-form ribs to theL rim II as at I2. The`spider 1 is formed with an annular substantially planar portion I 8from which the ribs 8 and 9 are pressed in the outboard direction. Inthe inboard direction, an annular bead I4 is pressed adapted to engagethe hub flange 2 or to engage aportion I5 of the brake drum overlappingthe flange 2; and the planar portion I8 is centrally perforated and bentin the inboard direction to provide an annular iiange I6 adapted toengage the flange 2 of the hub.

A circular series of bolts I1 are projected through suitableperforations in the planar portion I8 and threaded into the flange 2whereby the spider 1 may be rigidly mounted upon the ange 2 by clampingaction upon the flange I8 or the flange IB and the bead I4.

The ribs 9, as shown in Fig. 2, are aligned radially with the bolts I1and stop inwardly short thereof as shown at I8. The ribs 8-8 proceedinwardly radially and at a point substantially midway between theirouter ends and the flange I8 are joined in a relatively wide rib orchannel portion I8. The ribs or channel portions Il extend inwardlyradially substantially to the flange I8.

The spider 1 constructed as described above combines the maximum ofrigidity and strength with the minimum of material. By strengtheningrelatively thin sheet metal by means of the ribs 8 and 8 and the ribportions I9, the bead I4 and ange I8, and rigidly joining the outer endsof the ribs to the rim II, a light weight but strong wheel spider isprovided for transmitting load from the hub I to the rim I| and a tire28 thereon. Due to the relatively small diameter of the rim |I`wheresuper balloon tires are used,

the outer diameter of the spider 1 is correspondingly small and themetal from which the spider 1 is made may for this reason also berelatively lightweight.

For cooperation with a cover to be described, the sheet metal from whichthe spider is made is cut away as at 2|-2I to provide a circular seriesof openings therein. The openings 2| may be shaped in correspondencewith associated parts of the cover to be described. In the formillustrated, Fig. 2, they are generally of oval shape, and theperipheral edges of the openings 2| are beveled as at 22 (see also Fig.4), the purpose of which will be described.

The openings 2| extend, circumferentially, over most of thedistance-between adjacent ribs 8-8 or 8 and 9 and inwardly radiallyextend a suitable distance to be determined by corresponding portions ofthe cover spider to be described.

At 21 I have indicated generally an improved cover for the wheel andwhich is press-formed from sheet metal of relatively thin gauge such asNo. 2O U. S. gauge and is formed smoothly to the form to be described,in order that it may be ornamental and to this end is preferablyexternally plated with chromium, or otherwise given a pleasing outerappearance.

The cover 21 comprises a central annular portion 28 of slightly largerdiameter than the circle of bolts I1 whereby access may be had to thebolts I1 by wrenches through the central perforation 29 of the annularportion 28. Extending outwardly radially from the annular portion 28 isa relatively large number such as eighteen.

spoke simulating ribs 88-88, formed concave in the outboard direction aswell as in the circumferential direction on both sides of the spokeportions.

Between the spoke portions 30-30 the cover 21 is press-formed to providean outer hub portion 3|, the hub portion 8| merging with each pair ofadjacent spoke\portions 80. It will be seen that the spoke portions 8|are generally of channel form concave in the inboard direction, andpreferably the outer hub portion 3| and the flanges of the channel-formspoke simulating A portions 38--88 terminate in the inboard directionsubstantially in a plane 82, Fig. l, which is preferably the inboardterminal plane of the ribs 8 and 9 of the spider 1 as shown at 88-88.

The spoke portions 8|) and ribs 8 and 9 are of equal number and equallyspaced circumferentially so that the channel-form outer ends of theportions 88 may straddle the outer ends of the ribs as shown plainly inFig. 4, and the open ends of the channel portions 88 may, incross-section, be outwardly divergent, and thus may wedgingly engage thebeveled portions 22-22 of the openings 2|. 'I'hus axial thrust on thecover 21 in the inboard direction will wedgingly engage each spokeportion 88 with a corresponding rib portion of the spider 1 to rmlysecure the cover 21 on the spider 1 and the following means is providedto effect this thrust and in a resilient manner.

At the central periphery 28 of the cover 21, a plurality such as sixtongues 85 are bent inwardly and one end of a compression spring 88 ishooked into a suitable perforation 81 in each of the tongues. The otherend of the spring 88 is hooked through a perforation 88 in a generally Tform anchoring device 89 preferably stamped from sheet metal, the shankof the T extending outwardly through a perforation 48 in each of the ribportions I9 and the head of the T engaging the underside of the ribs.The six springs thus provided exert an inboard resilient thrust on thecover 21 for the purpose described.

It will be observed that although the inner ends of the spring 88 aredisposed where they are accessible through the central perforation 29 ofthe cover 21, they are suitably staggered with respect to the bolts I1so as not to interfere with access of the bolts by wrenches for theusual purpose.

Although six springs are shown, it will be understood that fewer may beemployed if desired, and furthermore, by the employment of six, if anyone or several springs should break, the remaining springs will besufilcient to hold the cover 21l in place.

Due to the relatively nesting relation of the ribs 8 or 9 and the coverportions 80, the cover 21 is prevented from slipping circumferentiallyof the spider 1 without employment of any means specifically for thispurpose.

The central perforation 29 is covered by a sheet metal cap 42 which maybe suitably press-formed to render the same ornamental. To secure itinplace it is preferably provided with an annular flange 48 extending intothe perforation and with resilient outwardly radially pressed devices 44adapted to engage the inner side of the peripheral edge 29.

The devices 44 may comprise button-like elements 45 on the free ends offiat springs 48, the opposite ends of which are amxed as at 41 to theinner wall of the flange 48 and the button-like elements 45 may projectthrough suitable perforations in the flange 48.

It will thus be seen that by the foregoing con- Cir struction I providea wheel comprising two superposed sheet metal spoked elements includingan inboard spider for securing the rim and hub proper together, formedregardless of appearance, to provide the necessary strength with thevery minimum of material and weight;v and an outer cover comprisingspoke simulating portions andan outer hub portion, made of light gaugematerial, carryingnone of the ywheel load-formed to ornamental shape,adapted to be plated to render it aesthetically pleasing and securedtothe inbo'ard spider byfreadily detachable means which hold litsecurely and noiselessly in place on the inboard vspider' and yet permitof its. ready removalfcr replacement purposes in casel of damagethereto; and the cover and attaching means do not'in any way interferewith access to thewheel attach- Referring toV the embodiment of Fig; 5,I have shownfthe closed `ends l of? the ribs 9 as continuing in theformof tongues 55 along the radially inward and inboa-rd portions o f theriml i,

for example asat l and 52. In thisy form, the tongues 50 may be weldedto the rim on an inboard portionfthereoi, for exampleas at 53.V Thisform admits of Welding the parts together by a different movement of thewelding machinery. f

In the form of- Fig. 5 also, the cover/comprises a wheel rim coveringportion 55 in additionto the spoke simulating an outer hub spiderportion or cover portion 56. The rim covering portion 55, as illustratedin Fig. 5. may conform generally to the shape of the rim, particularlythe outboard portions thereof, and in the embodiment illustrated extendsin the inboard direction substantially to the plane 32 above describedas shown at 61. Thus `a portion 68 of the rim cover covers the innersurface of the rim between the spoke portions 33. At the spoke portions3U, the rim covering portion 68 is notched as shown at 63 to straddlethe spider ribs 8 and 9, the notches having border flanges 51 formedintegral therewith, the

ianges 51 being substantially of thev same shape and extent as the innersurfaces of the spoke'portions 36, the anges 51 thus nesting'withfthespoke portions 311r as shown in Fig. 7. Thus the outer radial ends ofthe spoke portions 3-stradd1eand entirely-cover the iianges 51 on fthe.l rim covering portion 55 and theinboard thrust provided t'o holdthe cover on the wheel forces the ends of the spokes into engagementwith th anges 51 and also holdsthe rim `cover portion on the wheel'.

Preferably tongue portionsv 58 are cut andv pressed inwardly radiallyfrom the rim ilv in position to support thev rim viianges 5 1, asillustrated in Fig. 15; and thus the tongues 58 may take up'v the axialthrust acting upon the cover f or may determine its position relativevto the krim and spider 1. i

The cover 56 is otherwise .generally of thel same form as that bodiment.

Upon applying inboarcl thrust upon the spider cover 56, it will, as.will now be understood, enigage the radial Aends of the spoke portions36 witlrthe rim cover flanges 51 and engage them with the tongues 58 andthus hold the rim cover of the rst described emlportion securely on therim and will nest the spoke portions upon" the rim flanges 51 andsecurely hold the cover 56 itself on the spider 1. To provide thisinboard thrust, the resilient means or springs shown and described inthe embodiment'of Fig. 1 may be employed. How-y ever, in the form ofFig. 5 I have illustrated -a modication of this means. In this form, thecentral part of the cover 56 is depressed in the inboard direction andcentrally perforated to telescope over a threaded portion 60 of. the hubI. A nut 6| 'on the threads 60 clamps the depressed portion 62 upon ashoulder 63 on the hub, and by suitably shaping the depressed porton62,it may, when so clamped, exert an inboard thrust on the entire cover 56as will be understood.

The depressed portion 62 is provided with a circular series ofperforations 65 each of which is disposed opposite one of the bolts l1to give access thereto through the perforations. A cap 66 is providedsimilar to the cap 42 above described and may be removably attached in amanner similar thereto. f

In the form shown in Fig.- 5, the rim covering portion 55 is madeseparately from the spider 56, `but as will be understood bythose'skilled in this art, it may bemade integral therewith; and

itis not believed necessary herein to illustrate and describe suchintegral construction.

As will now be apparent,in -each of the embodiments of my inventiondescribed above, the ornamental cover is quickly detachable from the fspider. In the form of Fig. 1, upon removing the silient, `I have thusprovided in the form of Fig.'

5 a single resilient means and in the form of Fig. 1 `a plurality ofresilient means, both quickly detachable, for the covers.

If preferred,` the rim l and spider portions lli may beV` rivetedtogether, instead of welded, by

lan annular series of rivets projected through suitable alignedperforations therein.

My invention is not limited to the exact details .of construction shownand described inasmuch as many changes and modications may be made.withinv the scope and spirit of .the invention without sacrificing itsadvantages.

I claim: v 1. A sheet metal cover for wheels of the type comprisingarim, and a'plurality of circumfer-y entially spaced inwardly projectingtongue elements, thereon, the cover comprising an outer hub. portion andradially extending spoke simulating.I generally channel-form portions,and an annular rim cover portion, the rim cover portion comprising a.circumferential series of anges overlapping the tongue elements, and theends of the spoke simulating portions overlapping the iianges, andresilient means exerting inboard thrust onthe cover to hold the spokesimulating portions and the'rlm cover portion on the tongue elements'tohold thecover on the Wheel.v

2. A sheet metal cover for vehicle wheels of the type comprising *acentral hub portion, a felloe portion provided with a plurality ofcircumierentially spaced inwardly projecting tongue elements, and aplurality of radially extending spoke portions generally of channel forminboardly 'concave secured to the felloe portion and hub portion, thecover comprising a central nave portion and a plurality of spokesimulating portions extending radially therefrom, generally vof channelform inboardly concaved and mutu-l the depressed portion to a centralportion ot the wheel to exert inward axial thrust on the stamping, agenerally circular series of openings in the depressed portion adaptedto give wrench accesa therethrough to the wheel hub attaching elements,the stamping comprising generally channel form spoke simulating portionsadapted to nest with the wheel spoke portions to predetermine relativerotated positions o! the wheel and stamping to align the said openingswith the 10 said wheel hub attaching elements.

vOSCAR. U. ZIEK.

